"The CAO's office needs to know what's going on."
-- Interim CAO Rick Rudometkin referring to the lack of communication between department heads and the CAO, at the Dec. 8 Board of Supervisor's/ Modoc Medical Center public meeting.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Quotes to Remember
"The CAO's office needs to know what's going on."
-- Interim CAO Rick Rudometkin referring to the lack of communication between department heads and the CAO, at the Dec. 8 Board of Supervisor's/ Modoc Medical Center public meeting.
Christmas Shopping in Modoc
Shop Local - Spend Your Dollars in Modoc
- At Belligerent Duck's three-day sale this weekend...
- At Modoc Steel, for warm work gloves...
- At Silver Line Trailer Sales for a nifty little dump trailer...
- At Phillips's Appliance for a new freezer...
- At Personally Yours/ Janet's Flower Shoppe for flowers or a special gift...or
- At Carstens Motors for a great deal on a 2009 Chev.
The Rest of the Story
In an article in the December issue of the Modoc Independent News revised figures for space leased by the Modoc County Health Department were given by Bob Heard, representing Ruth E. Heard (trustee). Heard told the Modoc Independent the leased building and adjacent storage total 14,129 square feet, considerably reducing the total cost per square foot to 66 cents based on montly rent of $9,350.
In a gesture of community support in tough financial times, Heard also announced a $2,000 per month reduction in rent for the next six months. Yesterday Heard confirmed that the lease which would have been up in 2011, and which will revert to the $9,350 figure in June, has been extended for an additional year.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Letter to the Editor
Dear Ray & Barbara,
Thank you for your reporting about the many local issues and giving us great information on many relevant topics and events that affect us locally.
Thank you "for standing up and being willing to deliver."
Please accept this contribution as support for your efforts and work.
Gene Hess
Alturas
SV Hospital District Short-Changed
"I'm not happy," said Wanda Grove, Surprise Valley hospital administrator, who received a check in today's mail for $83,137.50, one-half of the Surprise Valley health care district tax assessment.
Grove is particularly unhappy about the fact that she heard about the reduction third-hand and that formal notification from the Modoc County Auditor, Alice Marrs came in the form of a fax, sent Nov. 19, just three weeks before Surprise Valley was due to repay their line of credit with Plumas Bank.
Marrs stated that she planned to disburse a 50 percent payment in December, 40 percent in April and 10 percent in June. For the past 23 years, Surprise Valley hospital and other assessment districts and agencies have received 100 percent of their funds up front.
Asked about the line of credit of $167,000 with Plumas Bank that is due now, Grove said she is "confident we can work something out with the bank. The bottom line though, is that it will cost us more money."
Modoc County’s board of supervisors, led by Dan Macsay, who represents the district in which the hospital is located, had voted unanimously in a token political gesture, to make a full payment to the hospital.
But the board has no authority over how disbursement payments are made to districts.
"We're going to hang in there no matter what," Grove said, adding that she and the hospital board are consulting with legal counsel.
Modocgate: Looking for a Backup Loan
While the Board of Supervisors waits out a decision by Plumas Bank as to whether it will provide a short term line of credit to the financially dysfunctional county government, there is a possibility that another county may be approached for help.
That was in a Dec. 1 report from Richard Arrow, the county’s contracted financial advisor. Arrow, acknowledging that getting a loan from another county was unusual, said it would give Modoc County “more leverage to negotiate a favorable rate” in dealings with Plumas.
While Arrow intimated there was an interested county, he did not disclose the identify of a county in a position to loan Modoc County an estimated $3 million to $ 4 million, reportedly to meet payroll in the coming months. (See Nov. 17, 2009 posting).
Modoc officials and Plumas Bank officers have been in discussions for about a month without a decision being announced.
Having another source for a short-term loan would give Modoc County a backup option if the Plumas Bank loan does not materialize. Such a loan would mean that another California county would be holding much of Modoc County’s discretionary funds as collateral, and in the event of failure it could mean Modoc County would lose jurisdiction over some of its finances.
At the Dec. 1 meeting of the board recently appointed interim CAO Rick Rudometkin reported, “We’re building a team, working on objectives. I might make a report every week, or maybe not.” He added that he was waiting for an answer from Plumas on the loan.
That was in a Dec. 1 report from Richard Arrow, the county’s contracted financial advisor. Arrow, acknowledging that getting a loan from another county was unusual, said it would give Modoc County “more leverage to negotiate a favorable rate” in dealings with Plumas.
While Arrow intimated there was an interested county, he did not disclose the identify of a county in a position to loan Modoc County an estimated $3 million to $ 4 million, reportedly to meet payroll in the coming months. (See Nov. 17, 2009 posting).
Modoc officials and Plumas Bank officers have been in discussions for about a month without a decision being announced.
Having another source for a short-term loan would give Modoc County a backup option if the Plumas Bank loan does not materialize. Such a loan would mean that another California county would be holding much of Modoc County’s discretionary funds as collateral, and in the event of failure it could mean Modoc County would lose jurisdiction over some of its finances.
At the Dec. 1 meeting of the board recently appointed interim CAO Rick Rudometkin reported, “We’re building a team, working on objectives. I might make a report every week, or maybe not.” He added that he was waiting for an answer from Plumas on the loan.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Support Modoc Independent Advertisers
Did we mention that Personally Yours, Modoc's "One Stop Party Shop" also has flowers? It's easy to order your holiday centerpieces, or a gift for someone special, just call Janet at 233-9630.
THE BIG EVENT is happening at Phillips Appliance this month. Check out all their Whirlpool appliances and surprise someone on your Christmas list. How about a new front-loading washer and dryer? Call 233-5705, ask for Brett.
York Ranches extends their best wishes to you for Happy Holidays. Reminder - Mark your calendar for their second annual Bull Sale, Saturday, March 20.
THE BIG EVENT is happening at Phillips Appliance this month. Check out all their Whirlpool appliances and surprise someone on your Christmas list. How about a new front-loading washer and dryer? Call 233-5705, ask for Brett.
York Ranches extends their best wishes to you for Happy Holidays. Reminder - Mark your calendar for their second annual Bull Sale, Saturday, March 20.
Modoc County Incident Management Update
Editor's Note: The following Modoc County Incident Command Report is published verbatim.
Department Heads and Board of Supervisor members continue to work diligently and cooperatively together as they consider tough decisions regarding the County Treasury.
Operational Period Accomplishments 11/30/09-12/07/09
The Auditor has established written policies and procedures that include prioritizing payables to manage cash flow, updated standardized orders to draw form, and 1 time per week payment on warrants to assist with Cash Flow Management. New policies and procedures will be in a handbook/training manual to assist fiscal staff.
The Sheriff’s Office is looking to move a General Fund paid Deputy Sheriff into a grant funded investigator position, saving the County general fund salary and benefits.
The District Attorney’s Office is obtaining some grant funding for a General Fund paid position, (victim advocate) saving the County general fund, salary and benefits.
The County is currently investigating funding/reimbursement for indigent defense/homicide trials to try to save the General Fund hopefully $100-300k.
Vacant CAO’s office is available for rent, and will generate some General Fund dollars, if a non-general fund department rents it.
Department of Health Services landlord provided a $12,000 cost savings on the lease. Health Services has also implemented a 4 day workweek to decrease overtime, increase moral, and increase accessibility.
Negotiations are continuing with short term financing, potentially implemented by the end of December.
The audit process is continuing and the 07-08 audit could be completed by the end January with the 08-09 audit pushing to finish as early as March.
Work is continuing on acquiring long term financing for the County.
Mid year budget review by all County Departments will take place.
The Revenue and Savings group in the ICS system is working with departments to analyze revenue sources and the effects of past and possible future cuts.
Operational Period 12/07/09-12/14/09
Areas that continue to be addressed are as follows:
Obtain short term financing with terms and conditions acceptable to the County.
Obtain long term financing with terms and conditions acceptable to the County.
Research and develop alternatives to long term financing.
Develop procedures for “legal” loans within the County treasury.
Research and develop strategies to improve revenue or reduce costs by a combined total of $1,500,000 per year. Development should include research into all foreseeable effects of implementing each idea.
Department Heads and Board of Supervisor members continue to work diligently and cooperatively together as they consider tough decisions regarding the County Treasury.
Operational Period Accomplishments 11/30/09-12/07/09
The Auditor has established written policies and procedures that include prioritizing payables to manage cash flow, updated standardized orders to draw form, and 1 time per week payment on warrants to assist with Cash Flow Management. New policies and procedures will be in a handbook/training manual to assist fiscal staff.
The Sheriff’s Office is looking to move a General Fund paid Deputy Sheriff into a grant funded investigator position, saving the County general fund salary and benefits.
The District Attorney’s Office is obtaining some grant funding for a General Fund paid position, (victim advocate) saving the County general fund, salary and benefits.
The County is currently investigating funding/reimbursement for indigent defense/homicide trials to try to save the General Fund hopefully $100-300k.
Vacant CAO’s office is available for rent, and will generate some General Fund dollars, if a non-general fund department rents it.
Department of Health Services landlord provided a $12,000 cost savings on the lease. Health Services has also implemented a 4 day workweek to decrease overtime, increase moral, and increase accessibility.
Negotiations are continuing with short term financing, potentially implemented by the end of December.
The audit process is continuing and the 07-08 audit could be completed by the end January with the 08-09 audit pushing to finish as early as March.
Work is continuing on acquiring long term financing for the County.
Mid year budget review by all County Departments will take place.
The Revenue and Savings group in the ICS system is working with departments to analyze revenue sources and the effects of past and possible future cuts.
Operational Period 12/07/09-12/14/09
Areas that continue to be addressed are as follows:
Obtain short term financing with terms and conditions acceptable to the County.
Obtain long term financing with terms and conditions acceptable to the County.
Research and develop alternatives to long term financing.
Develop procedures for “legal” loans within the County treasury.
Research and develop strategies to improve revenue or reduce costs by a combined total of $1,500,000 per year. Development should include research into all foreseeable effects of implementing each idea.
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